Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter will be the running mate of Ferdinand Marcos Jr in next year’s presidential election, the two candidates said yesterday, confirming weeks of speculation of an alliance between two powerful families.
Sara Duterte-Carpio, 43, who is seeking the vice-presidency announced in a video message her intent to run on the same ticket as Marcos, the latest twist in the Philippines’ political drama that has gripped the country.
“My party allied with and asked for support for Bongbong Marcos and for me after I accepted your challenge and your call,” Duterte-Carpio told her supporters, referring to 64-year-old Marcos by his nickname.
Marcos, the son and namesake of the late dictator who was toppled in a 1986 uprising, also issued a statement announcing he was teaming up with Duterte-Carpio.
“We and our parties agreed that we will pursue a unifying leadership should we be fortunate to win the election on May 9, 2022,” he said in a statement.
In the Philippines, the president and vice president are elected separately.
The alliance would be formidable and a boon for both campaigns, analysts have said, with Marcos able to tap the huge support base of the Dutertes in the south, and Duterte-Carpio likely to gain from the Marcos dynasty’s decades of dominance in its northern stronghold.
“I know that this fight is long and hard, but I am confident you will join and help me until the end, until we win this for our beloved country,” Duterte-Caprio, who is mayor of Davao, said.”If not for your outpouring of support, I would be out of this race”.
Experts say Marcos has emerged as the frontrunner due to Duterte-Carpio’s decision not to run against him, after she led opinion polls on preferred presidential candidates throughout the year.
Because they are both popular, political observers have said that a Marcos and Duterte-Carpio tandem would be the team to beat in next year’s election to succeed Duterte, who is barred by the Constitution from seeking re-election.
A survey by pollster, the Social Weather Station conducted between October 20-23, showed Marcos with a commanding lead over rivals incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo, Manila mayor Francisco Domagoso and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
The poll did not include Christopher “Bong” Go, Duterte’s closest aide and chosen successor, who only joined the presidential race on Saturday.
While Marcos’s candidacy has angered victims of his father’s brutal era of martial law, a survey by the Social Weather Station (SWS) in October showed he could easily beat his rivals, including boxing hero Manny Pacquiao.
Of the six key candidates confirmed to run for president at the time the poll was conducted, 47% of the 1,200 surveyed by SWS said they would vote for the 64-year-old Marcos.
“The only explanation there is he got the pro-Sara voters. There is very close affinity between BBM voters and Sara’s voters,” said political analyst Temario Rivera.
The election to choose a successor to Duterte will be held in May next year. He himself is not eligible to contest for the presidency again after his single six-year term but will be standing in the election for a senator’s seat.
Marcos’s family is among the country’s most famous dynasties and despite its fall from grace, has retained far-reaching and powerful connections.
Marcos, the dictator, died in exile in 1989 after fleeing the country following the “people power” revolution. Since the family’s return, Marcos junior has been elected governor, congressman, and in 2010, as a senator. His sister is a senator and a former governor, and his mother, Imelda Marcos, was elected to Congress for four terms.
International / ASEAN/Philippines
Duterte daughter joins Marcos as running mate in Philippines polls
Sara Duterte-Carpio (file pictuer)
